Buddhism

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the religion of Buddhism, its sources, beliefs and also compares it to Christianity. The paper examines the question of why Theravada Buddhism - more than Zen and Mahayana Buddhism - seems to have found a place among those Westerners who have taken an interest in Buddhism. This paper also reviews the precepts and philosophies put forward by those interpreting Theravada Buddhism. IN addition, the paper compares Theravada with Zen and Mahayana Buddhism (and Shin Buddhism, a form of Mahayana).

From the Paper:

"As to why Theravada has become an attractive way of practicing Buddhism in the U.S. Donald Rothberg, writing in The Faces of Buddhism in America (Rothberg 268) explains that Theravada has evolved from its traditional and more conservative form in Asia and now is thought of as "socially engaged Buddhism." That means, it responds to and addresses "social action," and is more germane to the average person's "everyday life." Rothberg asserts that the "1st Precept" of traditionally practiced Theravada is against killing; it implies that one person of Theravadan Buddhist faith should not kill another. But the "socially engaged Buddhism" practiced through Theravada in the West takes it into a broader scope, from individual responsibility to a sense of national social responsibility; in other words, socially engaged Theravadan Buddhism gets into politics, and takes a moral stand about government behaviors. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Coleman, James William. The New Buddhism: The Western Transformation of an Ancient Tradition. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
• Rothberg, Donald. "Responding to the Cries of the World: Socially Engaged Buddhism in North America." The Faces of Buddhism in America. Eds. Charles S. Prebish and Kenneth K. Tanaka. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998. 266-286.

More papers on Buddhism:

• Research Paper # 83498 : "Cha'an Buddhism"
• Analytical Essay # 135257 : "Passage on Buddhism"
• Essay # 83990 : "Chinese Buddhism "
• Essay # 32376 : "Buddhism and Buddhist Art"

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